This year, Boise turns 150-years-old. When it comes to national top 10 lists, the town has been competitive with much bigger cities like San Francisco, Seattle, and even New York City. But what exactly is it about Idaho’s capital city that makes it a place people love to call “home”?

During a community conversation hosted by the KBSX newsroom, Boiseans dug in to what makes the city tick.

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You can hear the edited hour long show here. Sadie Babits moderates. Guests include Maryanne Jordan, Jaap Vos and Barbara Perry Bauer.

One person said there’s a rhythm that’s unique and engaging, and that the community feels more like a big town than a city. Another suggested that it’s Boise’s commitment to arts and history that fosters city amenities – and draws creative types to set up shop.

One idea that resonated during the discussion was how Boise leads the state on social and political issues; the city council passed an ordinance banning discrimination against LGBT residents last year, while the state Legislature has stalled on the topic.

But when it comes to keeping young and educated people in town, Boise

is not immune to the state’s out-migration problem. Low wages and cuts to education funding are factors that a number of people are concerned about.

So how will Boise deal with these issues? As the city grows, will it be able to retain the quality of life many people love while stretching into the next century?

Tune in for a Community Conversation about Boise’s past, present, and future, Sunday July 28 at 8:00 p.m. on KBSX 91.5 fm.

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Boise is 150-years-old this year. The same year that Idaho became a territory, 1863, Boise became a town.

Terri Schorzman knows the city well. She was born here and didn’t leave until she was in high school when her father took a job in Colorado. Schorzman says she had a circuitous route back to Boise, including 13 years in Washington D.C.

“It just seemed like the right thing to do,” she says. “I just wanted to raise my kids here.” Schorzman and her family left Washington D.C. on a whim. She and her husband didn’t have any jobs lined up in Boise.